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HIDDINK: CHILDREN WERE NEVER NAMED AFTER ME BEFORE
A few days before the first match in the World championship qualification
the head coach of the Russian national team Guus Hiddink talked to Sport
Express.
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Photo: english.sport-express.ru
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And the talk began not with the news but with probably
the most amazing results of Euro 2008.
"I know that after the quarterfinal match with Holland on Euro 2008,
several people named their children after me," said Guus. "For
me such news is a reason for great pleasure and pride. That means that
a lot of people received me, a foreigner, very well. To learn that children
are named after you is a very specific feeling, believe me."
"Moreover, that happened to me for the first time. Maybe I don't
know something. But while working in Korea I had no similar information
and in Australia there were definitely no such cases."
"Abroad a notion reins that Russians are closed, gloomy and always
control their emotions. To tell the truth when I was heading for Russia
I was a bit influenced by this opinion. But in fact I faced lots of open,
emotional and sincere people."
Guus Hiddink seems to like defending his players. Denis Kolodin told that
after the starting defeat to Spain 1-4 the reserve referee rudely tried
to bring Torbinsky for a drug testing and Hiddink stuck up for him.
"Sport is the thing where the team can either win or lose. But that
is my team and I will always defend them. I am not at all always tender
to them, but when somebody from outside shows disrespect to my footballer,
is rude to him I will fight for him."
"This referee grasped Dmitri by the hand and started shouting. That
outraged me and I said: Stop it! Or you will have to fight with me."
"I did not know that other players have noticed it at all. I think
that was a normal reaction to rudeness and disrespect."
"A number of players in the national team are capable to play on
the highest level. But a lot depends on the requirements of the leading
clubs - whether they need people on these positions. For example Tottenham
sold Robbie Keane and badly needed one more forward, that is why they
have bought Roman Pavlyuchenko. But if there is no such need and they
ask big money for a player the club will think it over before spending
the money."
"I cannot judge the situation with Andrei Arshavin but I am pleased
with his work and can say that he is playing his football even he is upset."
"I am glad that Pavel Pogrebnyak is back in the team, I had no doubts
about his call up. He is a good player and there are no problems or conflicts
between us."
Igor Rabiner
Sport
Express Daily, 09 Sep 2008
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